Take-up mechanism for knitting machines



Oct. 16, 1923. 1,470,741

K. HOWIE TAKE-UP MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Eiled May 20. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheer(l 5 Sheetsvsheet 2 ou. v161 1923.

K. HOWIE TAKE-UP MEGHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filedv May 42O. 1921 Oct. 1.6 1923.

l K. HOWIE UP MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES TAKE- Filed May 2o.

1921 5 Sheets-Sheet kcitizen of theUnited Stet'e'sgendresident 'of fps-.tested @e 11641923.' f

` Appiicasogfifganaj gc;

Norristorm5A inH the county of Montgonieifvv c und State of Pennsylvania, invented cert-ein new `and* useful V-lmproveinents in TekegUpMechenisni for 'Knitting MachinedL 1 offw'hich the following is a spfeiifiicetioni rQneobject of myfinventi'onlis'to vprovide e; tekenp':mechanism forjlnittinb); machines which the .'drivii'ig'j ofV the takeiup" rolls Will Voccur through e'- positive vclutch device,`

- esjdistinguished 'from atriction clutch usingsuch rictionally engaginginembers asfiibre' leim to provides .positive clutch heving metal touinetel' engegingsurfaces, ybut vwhich fr VWillv'be :fr-'ee from the objection existingto certain priorfforzns, in that,y in my improve-y ment the Yclutchjmeinbers are notgradually engaged and disengaged but are i either` yall thevvey inV engegementfWith-'each otheror all the wey out lof engegement.V

f This 'evoidsthe'successive"knockingecf tions and:the;tendency''ofVr the clutch points' tochip other wei'revvey oressunie a, round*H I y ed'forni insteedoi reineiningisquereedged,`

rest.

and`V Working With' the greatest Aeiiicienc'y. Otherfeatures' ofthe r invention WillV be Vclear irointheY following description and 'accompanying kdrewings;'in Whichf-Y c y' Figure l is aside vieivofa tithe-up mechanisin with the clutchmeinbers out of driv-L` ing ,relation7 the teilte-up clr'olls being zet similar to ig. 1 Vvvith" the Fig-2'is a, view d l housing or supporting treme of the take-up Y Vrolls Vtilt-'ed doWnwjerdlyYdueY tothe length i y the take-up action of therollsf`r of the 'fabric knit'o'ff from the machineythe clutch members nowbeing'inengegernent to drive the tekeup rolls. o

Fig. 3 isle vievv'f similar to FigQbut withV the housingorfraine of the take-up" rolls `tilted upwerdlyyvdue; to` the take-up rolls climbing on the fabric,A and theclutch about to be thrown outi of operation' tostop y Fig. 4: is ek fplanfview 'partly/lin' sectiony of@ a. honing theinventinf.- g. f-

"Figzf is' 'e view lookin'gffrom the yfronty of 'ck Each of :the

'portion of e take-up mechanism ein#k r seri11510. 471-20911.' f

,Y r "Inthes'e dreivings ll is the fre-ine of 'fram/ein which take-up rolls 3 arejourneled.

'This vfreine hesv la shaft 19 bearing in .the mainframeend this teke-'uphcusing 1s adapted. toswing 'withy the exis or" ythis', shaft f es eyj'center;Thelteiielup rollsare'geared tof rotate in vunisorrf @neVoffthetalreiup-rolls hase Worm lWheel r5 connected therevith.-l *A Worm 'fi meshes with /thelworm'fwvhe'elf 1lhis fvvorrnV has f siffclutch vmeniberl 4 :having 'e' toothjor teeth on [its lup'periabe adapted fotolbe engaged by a] 1 YVclutch member 6,;Wliichfis splinedet 6` to i' ,J theftalie-'upinfpart oit the c es in Yordinary precticeby zt *geen*v on its lowererid,engfaging-Vai rack Xed to a: partfof l themechinefframegf. vTheWorrnflk Ais'loose';VV on thisr sha-ft-f The upper endoi rthe shaft;` v beers in asuitabler ernifl c The. sliding c-l'utch IneInbeI'- 6 is upper pert- Witha'V iienge 6?; having [e `cut-L groove .betweeny them y,to lreceiveV ety times, :af spring pinqorgplunger lOQcarried by a boxV 2. onfthetztkeeup 'freine 2'. This boX also carries e spring pinorplungerllvhichgisA i tof cooperate Withfthe cern incline .6 in re-A leasingzthe clutch. l f

spring 12er V13 vkforcing the c pin; (fWhichris the i* forni of a" sleeve,` anditisfprovidedj at its'f* awayYund@rgpartprovidingF e can; incline 6"i l Itnlso has a' secondi-lange'(ljsptcediapart, from theiengev 6,"p,rovidingk 'en annular,V 50

rectangular in'c'rfoss section) outto the right k of the boxing 2f, The movement `of these l' spectively;

plungers is limited Vby`stopfpins' 14, vre?` A Supposing,theclutchlo` be'outgof fiction,VL f

is in rigA i,y at which time, the sudati@ mens j 1 k ber 6 is held up, so'thetits tooth GX'Will be 95 K `opuently not .in enge-gement, "with V4'the toothu ,of therKKWorm/This clutchmeinberi, howabove the horizontal plane ofend-ronsel ever; will"` be"k iniconstant"rotation,`because it` v rotates with, thefshaftgl'S. f1 I. c i j Asthe febriclis'zknit oie and consequently -ioolY n, .lengtliensz-cthe ta-lreguprollsgweihing*theres,- i kon*vvillinove down end tilt the renie y2nite fc 1 K Y This'feng .the positionioiflilig. :2., thus 'TWithdranfingv plunger 10 from engagement with oluteh member; 6, allowingthi's to drop all the Way 5 the. Vclut eh member 4A of thepworin, whereupon down'A and into*fulldrii'ing'engagement with 'the "Wein 'i V:will A -driven and through the .Worm Wheel" 5 vtheA` takeupY rolls will be turned to take upv thejtahrie [as it is knity eti from the needles.A I 'l i 'e'i'neiitfot the ohitehmem'hets is,-y

Vthievtja the illv stroke action Vothrthe 'clutch Y Vtake-up'capacity'. and the rate ot prfV kof knitting at @the Ynee'dles,'the hou ng ori t finto. engagement with they lower clutch '15 'fw n sleeve (i,y which Y when released :hy 'the dogor pin'l() 1s free to drop allthe Way down fabric, v,du'etothje .diii'erenee between their l Y lnetien rameQ'Will he tipped v.to the position shown in Fig. ai/land When 'the 4entfaway part at the underside ,of 'the Hangs 6av 'comes aifoun'd .opposite the pin ll, this will 'sn-iingagrinie the space and the: inelinefTrwill iride onfthe pinand thus the Whole clutchfn ihei' G invill he lifted, so `that its tooth ,6* SWillfhe 7ith-y `drawn from the' tooth' ofthe vWorm and the Worin will `Cease to drive the 'take-up rolls, The "lifting 'of'4 ClutchY member 6 will' bring its annulzir grooie'opposite the: spring,r `pin V1Q, so that'this 'Willimmediat'ely' spring' 'into'f'plaeevand'hold the'eluteh 'member 6 lfted-`-i` 'g' y f f v Thisl relation ofthe 'parts' will 'rlzontinueY for only a short time,-heejause the fabric, as it ,eontinues tobe knit off will' increase i i 3 length and.v allow thel't'alteiupfrolls, which re' gripping it,y to `lower, andV thepl1 Yligger l0 meinberil y'lhisfnfillf now tallj and resume l driving the Worm. ltowill he seen from thev f above thatthe 'lutehnnemher vis allowed 1 .gradual aetion results in a sueeession of taps or knoelsas the engagement V,1s initiated and 'th-1s 1s objectionable not oi'ilynheause yofthe y pleterelease lis 'the result.

f her's'` gradually' intok engagenjient.

toi fully engage tliefivorlnfoluteh or it, is Withdrawn Vcon'iplete'ly7 from 'engagenjient F therewith. L, lnA other Words, the e'lutehA Vis either all the VWayfin orall' the VWay out'. 'It does:` not operate by1hrmg1ngfits tn'ofnieni'- Y Such noise 'but undue yWea; takes" place katfthe kelutchpoints o1" pins,'and the edges orjcor-i lners of thesepoi-nts'or teeth are' liahlet'o be chipped. lyx'y Clutch-maybe isaidtohejjot, full stroke character; Vthat. is to sa u the'settingvv 'of y'the'elutzhj for f, drh is initiated, the setting actionv ris carried" on to` the fullest extent, 'and on the contra ry, once th'e'r'elease otthe clutehis started, the' croirek Inthe foregoing* notion` and in 'the drawings,l haveidiscloseld my invention `1in l the form nowhest known to n' ibut itjivill he imderstoodthat inilentlion inayfloe enig bodied in organizations other than` thatk shown, and driven by means other thanthat illustrated.v Theforegoing speciiieation, of

which the drawing forms a part, is,vthere forehto. he regarded' sjldesoriptive of [the invention and not scope, nf'hich claims.. l

yis `Vdefined by the appended l1Theunderliefeatinle'oi the invention is elutelnjth'e 'members ot Whiteh-'--lfiimeNafullk throw relative movement into` and out of engagementat each 'change' of the elutehvin Consequence ofy variations: in lthe rate ,ot travelv efthe vfabric between `.the take-up f rolls.

ydecrease in thef rate` oftralvel ofthe fahrie iorfreleasing the clutch, substantially-as described. s l Y 2; Take-up mechanism for knitting` machines comprisingV ahrie-tale-up lmeansl driving' means therefor Q including I *clutch/I members means' fon imparting rotation to one ot said members, power operated means for givinga Jfull throw relative movement.

to thejclutch memlbersifroin engagedto disf engaged `position for yreleasing them, said power operated means being rendered efee tive by the deer ase'rin thefrat'elof travelof the ahricfitor releasing 'the eluteh,I said clutch inemhe'rs having 4'interengaging teeth' and 'when' released having their teeth lyingr in dinei'ent but parallel planes, substantially as described.,r Y i o. f'llakesupA mechanism for knitting madrivinzg means vtherefor 'inoluding toothed clutchr` members. means jfoij impartingy rotation to one. 'of Asaid members', means for givingv a relative movementto Athe toothed Clutch members trom engaged to disengaged position vfor releasing them,k said means deriil'ingjits poiverfrom that of the machine, andV beingV controlled to utilize said power by the'deerease in'ither'ate of travel ofthe fabi-ie. substantially as,l described.

Take-upmeehan'ism foi? knitting machines comprising a `pairv @italie-up rolls.

a rmovable'support'therefor, driving means forfthe tahefup rolls mel'udingy"toothedy Clutch 'memhersf means for impartingI- rotation tol one of "said membersmeans for giving a full throw' relative movement to rthe'toothed Clutch meinbersfrom engaged toV disengaged' Vposition for releasing them, said means deriving its power from thatofthe limita-tion upon' Aits` ehi'nes'v Comprising"` ahrieftale-up, meansfr1w kmachin@ and .being rendered effective in `reo'f the siip-port,'diie tofthe decreasefinjthe rate of travel ofthefabricj substantially as described. Y

E. .in combination in a taker-np-forslnittinev machinemf-abric.take-u' means, apair-4 ibersffor d'ri` xg thersaine, 1 K ing oneofrjthe said members, in connected with saidgmember.,androcam 1 Ato. canse in or ,ont of engagementwiththe cam in acy. dance withvariations in the frate oftravel `'of the fabric betn p means; siibstant e machines, fabrictakeiipfineans, a pair `clutch members-for'driving the saine,

' .meansv for driving' rone. of. the; saidmembers,

Y a cam VVconnected.with saidmemfber and ro- ,tating therewith, a vpin for engaging the cam to canse the release ofitsl connected clutch memberbvpthe power derived fromfl Ythe machine. and means for setting the pin" in or out of engagement with the cam in accordance with variations in the rate of travel of the fabric between thel machine and take-np means, said pin beingn'ionnted .tof

yield when being positioned into engavement with the` cam, substantially `fas `cescribed. y

7. in combination in a take-up for knitting machines, fabric take-np means, Ya pair4 `of chit/ch membersffor driving the same, means for driving one ofthe said clutch members, a cam connected with'said inem- QG c rived from the-machine, meansV for'setting Vthe device` in or out of engagement with the connected clutch member 'by the powerv de` rived fromVV the machine, means for settingthe pin in or ont of engagement with the cam in accordancewith variations in the rate of travel of the fabric between the. ma-

ei the machine ai'idtake-y .upper clutch member then` resumingV enber and rotating therewith, a device-for en'-A Y gagging the cam tocause the release of its Vconnected clntch`member by the power de-"said` rota cam in accordance with' variations in" the rato of 'travel of the fabric between the Ina-I chine and the take-up means, and means for ii'iittinsr means between the loose clutch memgaging thecam to canse the `releaseof its rotatingy shaft "bein ,q1 arrangedV substantially chine and the'talre-iipfnie'ans, a'coilai'k on lcasin the clutch b the ivotal mov ement clutch` member above f camv and spaced vrapa-rt ierefroni, aipin'for engagingy the'cob lar yto .hold the cliitch. members separated.1v

g saidfpin ,being kset into and k,ont of' holdingy engagement with the .collar v`b v the `saine means which. sets; the first pin and ont of engagement withthecam,V vboth of said `pins being-spring' pressed `*to yield .when they y adi/a A g' .therewitliga pin.; for .engaging?l the release ofits connected i y Y,clutchmember.'by-the power derived. from thefmachine, and meansiforrsetting thepin `n oed cooperative position, siibstantiall d as.Vv described.r`

n g lnk combination' in take-np lmechanism v for knitting lmachines,fabric take-up .rrieznisgl a c c n, f'member an thek taleeiip means,- nieans for 6. In c mbinataon in a Vtaliefiip forglnitrotating thegnpper clutch membenmeans for rivingits pow from that-of the machii'ie.y n and beiiig'controlled to kutilize said rpower 90 by the. decreasev in `the rate ,of travel of. ,the fabric,'anc eoingfont of action whenthe rate'of travel of the fabric"increases,the

gagem'enty with the lowerclntch member by g5 a full throw movement, to'drive the take-up ymeans..siibstantiallv as described. o, l

K l0. ncombination intalrefiinmechanism for knitting machines,`fabric italie-np4 means,

rotating shaftpapair of clutch members um 'on-said shaft. one'of which is' splined there-g to and the other `loose thereonnower transmitting means between the' loose clutch lmember and the take-np 'cam con- Y'nected tof thefs'plined clutch member and driven by the poweinof'the machi ne through orshafnf-a member cooperating vwith `the ci'amjand estinto engagement there withas a result* of the decrease inthe rateof travel of the fabric; to retractthe splined clutch member by a `full lthrow movement out of 'engagement'vwith the `,loose clutch c member, substantially las described. 11. Incombination in take-np mechanism for knitting machines,`fabric take-np means,

varotating shaft, a pairy of clutch mei .bers Von said shaftfoneof which is splinodgthereto andthe other loosethereon, power transbeiandthe talrenp means, cam connected 12 to the splined cliitchinember vend fdriven b v the power of the machine thronrgrhl saidrotating shaft, a member cooperatingwith the cam and set into engagement therewith :is a, result ofthe Idecrease in the rate Vof travel of the fabric, to retract the splined clutch mem-'- ber by ^a full throw Vmovementont of en-A gagementlwith kthe loose clutch member, said vertical with the splined clutch member and iiol vcam above the-loose clutchmembeigfsaid Splined clutch member `falling by gravity j n engaged' having .their teethr lying; in diii'erinto engagement With the loose member by a K full threwmovementv when released from" its retracted vpositioifiby 'the retirement of the said'coopera'ting niember'dne to the in! creased rate of travel of the'abric.

l2. In combination in take-np'mechanism" Y. forrknitting machines, e pair-oit `take-np "rolls,l a pivoted frame carryinof'said rolls, a' Vvertical drive shaft, a. Worm ay `Worm gear meshing With the Worm and Y connected to one of the take-np rolls,4 va

oose thereon,v

toothed 'clutch member iixed to thel Worm, a

slidable toothedclntch member'rota'ting With theslieft, a cam connected ywith the sldable lsult of the decrease in the rateof travel of the clutch member and rotating therewith,A a

` collar cennec'ted with 'thecann a pair of spring pins, one for engaging the cam to retract the sliding clutch by the power derivedI from A the machine and one. for engaging the 'collar to hold the sliding clutch retr'actech-said pins being mounted 'on' the pivoted `frame to' be set in position 'for retracting` and holding the sliding clutch when the lratejof trevelfof the fabric decreases and to be Withdrawn, forithe rc3-engagement of the clutch'members llfiyjfiniel y Whenjthe rate of travel of the fabric increasesagain2 said'clntch members when disentbnt parallel plaines,V snbstantially'as de- 13. in combination in take-np mechanism Vsaid 'shaftgvjene of which is'splined thereto andthe'otherloose thereon, power transmitr lting means betweenlthe loose clutch member yandthe take-up means, acani connected to e the splined clutch member and driven the ypower lof the machine through said rotating shaft, e member cooperating with the cam and set intorengagement,therewith as a resnpportfortheYtele-np means having an arm extending Vupwardly alongside the said yshaft and1 carrying the ysaid j member, sub- Saltlly es described. e l ,Y ln, testimony whereof, aliix my ',Sgnw

ture. f' lKENNETH HOWIE. 

